Offensive lines - Spotlight

Their work in the trenches jump-starts some of the league's best offenses:

1. Chiefs

Three important factors in the success of an offensive line are continuity, communication and cohesiveness, and the Chiefs have all three.

The addition of left tackle Willie Roaf before last season allowed the Chiefs to move John Tait to right tackle, where Tait's mobility and athleticism as a run blocker made him a good fit. Center Casey Wiegmann and left guard Brian Waters, a former center, both read defenses well and compensate for a lack of ideal size by playing with great technique.

The Chiefs' linemen know their responsibilities, and it shows in their taking the right blocking angles and in their awareness of spacing. They make it easy for Priest Holmes--at least 81 yards rushing in every game--to read his blocks and patiently follow their lead, whether the play is a run or a screen pass.

Their teamwork and determination in finishing blocks show up in pass protection. Trent Green was sacked only 13 times in the team's first nine games.

2. Packers, Brett Favre is the league's top iron man, but his men of steel up front deserve credit for keeping him healthy enough to be a confident gunslinger. Heading into last Monday night's game, Green Bay's line had allowed only seven sacks. Boosted by the healthy return of left tackle Chad Clifton, the veteran group has given Ahman Green room to burst through and speed around defensive fronts.

3. Vikings. Harvard man Matt Birk anchors the unit with his intelligence, line-calling and explosive run blocking at center. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie takes care of Daunte Culpepper's blind side with a massive 6-8, 343-pound frame, and he has yet to realize his full potential. Birk's and McKinnie's strengths, in combination with those of their linemates, allow the Vikings to operate a potent but balanced attack.

4. Broncos, The cast of characters might shuffle a bit from season to season, but center Tom Nalen and right guard Dan Neil are the stalwarts of the league's best-coached group. What they do on the field speaks for itself. Their trademark is quickness and athleticism instead of overpowering size, and the winning formula churned out four different 1,000-yard backs in the past five seasons.

5. Rams. This unit is starting to jell after big offseason personnel changes and a slow start. The two newcomers, right tackle Kyle Turley and center Dave Wohlabaugh, joined all-world left tackle Orlando Pace and give Marc Bulger plenty of time to execute Mike Martz's pass-happy game plan. Expect the Rams to have fewer protection breakdowns and run the ball more effectively the rest of the season.

6. Colts. Peyton Manning has proved to be as durable as Favre, and powerful left tackle Tarik Glenn is a pocket passer's best friend. Glenn missed the first two starts of his career this season, but Indy held up in Glenn's absence because it had added youth and depth alongside Glenn and center Jeff Saturday. Left guard Rick DeMulling and right tackle Ryan Diem are third-year players, and right guard Steve Sciullo is a rookie.

7. Ravens. Jonathan Ogden is an immovable object and irresistible force at left tackle, but Baltimore's other four starters also have played big roles in Jamal Lewis' run at history. Lewis gets his big gains when he converts his power into acceleration at the second level, but his line provides the holes for his initial burst. The line has succeeded despite facing overloaded, stacked-box defenses every week.

Vinnie Iyer. E-mail: viyer@sportingnews.com

COPYRIGHT 2003 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group